Ashby Hall: The International Living Experience

If you enjoy learning about the world and all of its’ different cultures, Ashby Hall is the best place for you!

The objective is to bring together U.S. nationals and JMU internationals to develop a community that creates a natural exchange of culture. Here are a few ways to accomplish this goal:

• Hold international dinners featuring cuisine from various parts of the world
• Arrange coffeehouse hours to provide topical discussion of world issues or to experience world music
• Create a global outreach program that would highlight different countries and student teams who could present information in JMU classrooms, area high schools, local community meetings, etc.

Of course, the potential is endless, but it will be up to the initiative of the Ashby community to determine the possibilities.

You have to successfully complete the selection process before you can join this dynamic, international setting that provides a bluestone building with 66 beds for coeducational, first year and upperclass students.Members of the Ashby community have to participate in at least one building committee or coordinate one approved special program per semester while actively participating in other scheduled events. More details are available at web.jmu.edu/reslife.

Substance-Free Communities

Some students have medical or therapeutic conditions that necessitate living in a substance-free environment. For these and other interested students, the university offers substance- free communities. The freshman substance-free halls are Magnolia and Shorts. The purpose of providing substance- free halls is to ensure that residents, regardless of age, are committed to a substance-free lifestyle. Students living in these residence halls pledge that they and their guests will abstain from the use of tobacco, the consumption of alcohol and the use of any other illegal substance.Anyone returning to the building under the influence of any of these substances is in violation of community policy.

In all residence halls, staff members enforce all federal and state laws regarding alcohol and illegal drugs. All observed violations are addressed in a disciplinary manner regardless of the type of living community.

     Violations in substance-free residence halls, however, may warrant additional sanctions. Sanctions may include a fine of $75 per violation and an administrative room change to a more appropriate space on campus.

Note: An application process is required to be considered for substance-free housing. Space in these communities is limited. Submitting the required application does not guarantee assignment to this community.

If health reasons require that you live in a substance-free hall, you should request the appropriate form from the Office of Disability Services or go to www.jmu.edu/disabilityser/.

Bluestone area halls house approximately 646 upperclass students and 263 first-year students in traditional bluestone buildings, representing the original architecture of James Madison University. Individual bluestone hall capacities range from 66 to 186 residents. These halls reflect a traditional design of long open hallways with rooms on either side of the main corridor.Most rooms are arranged in suites with two or three students to a room

and two rooms sharing a bath. Students sharing the bath are responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of their bathroom. These halls have kitchen facilities with microwave ovens, vending services, large carpeted study lounges, TV lounges and laundry facilities.With the exception of Spotswood Hall, the bluestone halls have recreational equipment such as pool tables and pingpong tables available for use by residents.